The select galleries represented at FOCUS: Portugal at this year’s Art Toronto fair showcased some of Portugal’s most talented contemporary artists. The works included: painting, sculpture, drawing and moving image. In the words of Ribas, “The works propose different forms of engagement with urgent and critical issues in contemporary art and culture, from tourism and gentrification to identity and technology. “ Watch a video of Ribas speak about the exhibition HERE
Art Toronto celebrated its 20th year in 2019, growing from 60 exhibitors in its first year to now presenting over 100 galleries from across Canada and around the world. It remains one of PIA’s annual fall highlights.
Rui Mateus Amaral and Luiza Teixeira de Freitas speak to members at PIA’s autumn salon
Notes on Collecting and Curating: A Conversation Between Luiza Teixeira de Freitas and Rui Mateus Amaral held at PIA member Janice Lewis’s home was a well-attended and thoughtful discussion.
The intimate surroundings enabled the dialogue to develop and the speakers were able to flesh out some of the complexities that surround being an independent curator in these rapidly-changing times. Teixeira de Freitas highlighted key projects and in particular from her father’s collection. She also addressed new ideas in exhibition-making, collection building and art fair experiences. Read PIA’s Q +A with Luiza Teixeira de Freitas HERE
A special thanks to Janice Lewis for being such a gracious host for the Salon,
Notes on Collecting and Curating.
Pamela Meredith in front of beadwork by Colette Whiten, 1994
In early November members were invited to view the McCarthy Tétrault Art Collection led by collection curator Pamela Meredith. Meredith has been responsible for the care of the collection for the past year and a half, taking over from long-time curator Jeanne Parkin. Already in this time, she has made significant changes, with one of her mandates being to make the collection of Indigenous work a priority.
Members stand in front of James Carl’s ATM made from cardboard, complete with a sheet of bullet-proof plexiglass.
There is a strong Canadian presence in the collection which spans five floors of the building. Vignettes and delightful dialogues between the pieces abounded.
Nate Tremblay with the microphone speaks about their space within the city.
The Art Activates panel discussion at Stackt Market saw PIA members and interested members of the public come out for an enlightening and entertaining evening focussing on how Toronto might reimagine the city’s future in regards to housing. The moderator of the event Marc Mayer kept the panelists (Emelie Chhangur, Mazyar Mortazavi, Charles Stankievich and Naty Tremblay) on point with his questions.
The Way She Looks runs until Dec. 8. Image by Geoffrey Roche
Currently showing at the Ryerson Image Centre, The Way She Looks: A History of Female Gazes in African Portraiture, features photographs from the Walther Collection. The exhibited works subverts the gaze, positioning the woman as viewer, not being on view.
Guest curator Sandrine Colard writes: “The African female gaze is one of the most under-studied subjects in histories of visual representation. A frequent assumption of powerlessness has caused researchers to overlook theses women’s capacities to shape their own representations. On the rare occasion when this viewpoint has been examined, women’s gazes are have been described as being vital only to their own ‘limited’ perspective”.
Director of Ryerson Image Centre’s Paul Roth tours members through the exhibit.
Image by Lisa Dinnick
This exhibit examines this complex history and looks at the way that women see themselves and shape their identities. The Way She Looks celebrates a group of contemporary female artists and their powerful visions.
